Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on April 2012

To be served fresh crustaceans by a guy who looks like Super Mario, there is surely only one place to go. Kaki Goya Ebisu (1F SSR Bldg, 1-26-14 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku; Tel: 03-3443-0233), which translates as “Ebisu Oyster Hut,” serves you up a small mountain of shell-bearing creatures with your ¥500 cover charge and the fun just starts there. Even better, it’s that rarity in Tokyo of a bring-your-own-booze place, where you can tuck into your own crates of liquor for a mere ¥600 corkage fee per person. If you ask the Italian plumber nicely, he’ll even sell you some of his private whisky stash.